Ariana Saigh, a sports and cultural photographer from Pasadena, California and currently based in Paris, introduces herself as someone whose work is deeply rooted in her heritage. We came across her work (which you’ve already seen on the cover this month) in a roundabout way. A photo on AOTA’s feed showed an Arab man in a shemagh and thobe playing basketball at night using a shemagh printed ball called to us. We contacted the team and they told us about their gem of a photographer.

AOTA (All Of The Above) is a brand built on five guiding principles, authentic story-telling, and pure intention, and is known for fusing Middle Eastern culture with their products, showing their appreciation and obligation to preserve their proud Arabian heritage. They tie in perfectly with Ariana’s work. Ariana had reached out to them and they decided to fly her out to Kuwait and work with her. “AOTA will always advocate for collaborating with people who share our values,” Tareq Qaddumi, AOTA founder.

“My story is deeply shaped by my heritage,” Ariana says. With a background that bridges cultures—her father, one of eleven siblings, was born in a small village in Jordan, and her mother brings an artistic Greek lineage—Ariana’s journey reflects cultural intersections and personal identity.

Ariana’s path to photography was heavily influenced by her family. Growing up in a hardworking immigrant household, she was exposed to resilience and ambition from an early age. Despite the challenges of pursuing an artistic passion in an Arab American family, Ariana embraced her creativity, with her parents’ support.

“My parents recognized and supported my drive, encouraging me to follow my own path,” she reflects. After earning a BA in Fine Arts from UCLA, Ariana’s curiosity led her to Paris, where she completed an MA in Fashion Film and Photography. She then embarked on a career as a freelance photographer, driven by a passion to document cultures and tell stories.

Ariana’s love for sports photography began with basketball games shared with her father. “Some of my best memories are of sitting in the nosebleed seats at Lakers games,” she shares, recalling how her father, who immigrated to New York at the age of 11, found belonging through the sport. This connection is what drives her work in sports culture, as she sees it as a universal language that brings people together. “Sports is a universal language that transcends boundaries and brings people together,” Ariana explains. Everywhere she travels, she observes how sports create unity and hope, a theme she continually captures through her lens.

Ariana’s cultural background plays a significant role in her approach to photography. A pivotal experience for her was a father-daughter trip to Jordan, which deepened her appreciation for her roots. In 2023, after the loss of her father, she embarked on a personal project, “My Father’s Footsteps,” to document his childhood village in Jordan. “With each shot and every step through his village, I felt his presence,” she recounts. Through this project, Ariana seeks to capture more than just images—she wants to build a shared experience that honors her heritage and those she photographs.

For Ariana, inspiration comes from creating understanding and connection. She strives to make her subjects feel seen and valued, capturing raw and authentic moments that tell a larger narrative. “I’m driven by the desire to make my subjects feel seen, valued, and strong,” she says. Her creative process starts with understanding the core story she wants to tell, often involving in-depth research and a deep connection with her subjects. She aims to capture candid, unfiltered moments, revealing the depth, resilience, and beauty of her subjects.

Navigating multiple cultural identities has been a challenge for Ariana. “It’s a delicate balance of empathy and curiosity,” she says. She emphasizes the importance of understanding rather than assuming, allowing her subjects to define their own stories. This approach has helped her build trust and capture moments that reflect authenticity and strength beyond cultural labels.

One of Ariana’s most enriching experiences was working with AOTA, a brand that merges sports, culture, and social issues. “Seeing their Shemagh basketball—the way it blended cultural pride with the sport I love—filled me with a sense of purpose and excitement,” she recalls. Collaborating with AOTA allowed her to explore the fusion of sports and heritage, ensuring that cultural nuances were respected. “I leaned heavily into collaboration with Tarek and the AOTA team,” she says, emphasizing the importance of flexibility and open communication during the project.

Ariana’s project with AOTA aimed to convey the unifying power of basketball. “My goal was to capture how AOTA’s Shemagh basketball represents both the pride of heritage and the joy of play,” she says. She believes that sports can bridge cultural divides and bring people together, a message that was successfully conveyed through the project. “We hoped to show that while our cultures and backgrounds may differ, there is always common ground to be found,” Ariana concludes.

You can watch as Ariana continues to explore the intersections of culture, identity, and resilience, using her camera to tell stories that resonate beyond borders by following her on Instagram @arianasaigh. To purchase her prints visit www.arianasaigh.com.